The Irish standard., 1887-11-12
The CARE or LAMPS.
, How to Clcers ard Keep Them in \ se~-
yiceable Condition.

5{G. Ink CARE#4Of-E# LAttl Ss 5sse5ss%$s4
! How to Clean ard Keep Thera in a ser-
| yiceable Condition.
In houses where there is no gas it ia
particularly important that the lamps
should be carefully locked after, for
there are few things that make a house
| look so untidy and uninviting as ILL
kept lamps. Many people will not use
them in sleeping-rooms, preferring to
use the spermaceti OF wax candles.
They claim that they can not endure
the smell of the oil, which is particu-
larly offensive after the lamp 10 blown
out. There is no necessity for lamp
smelling so as to be offensive to any
body; and if it is cared for properly it
| will not do so. It is best when it can
be done to place either lamp or candle,
when blown out, outside Of the sleep
ing.room; but if there is an objection
to this, and the lamp remains III the
room, there should be no more offensive
smell from it, nor as much. if it is well
cared for, as from candle, and if the
room is well ventilated, the most sensi-
tive organization need not feel any a1l-
noyance at the presence of a lamp in
the chamber.
| One cause for lamps smelling is the
use of poor oil. Never use poor oil on
any account: there is only the differ
ence of few cents in the gallon. and
the satisfaction that the best oil gives
outweighs all difference in price. The
oil resembling water most in appear"
ance, with slight blush tinge, is cone
sidered the best. Another and the
more common cause of the smelling OF
lamps is the clogging Of the tiny air-
holes at the base Of the burner under
the cap, and the crusting OH the inside Of
the cap. The airholes may be cleared
for little while by washing the burner
in hot soap suds, but this will have no
effect on the crust in the cap. It will
be as firm as ever. To look at the in-
side of the cap there doesn't seem to
be any thing there, for the crust is
burnt on to the brass so evenly and
smoothly that it is, to all appearances,
q part of the cap. To clean the burner
thoroughly, put it in an old tin which
can be kept for this kind of work,
cover with water, throw in a lump OF
washing soda the size of q walnut, put
on the stove and let all boil together
about ten minutes. Remove the burner
from the water and wipe dry with an
old cloth or paper. If it has been neg~
lected for any length of time, on the
inside of the cap will be found the
crust so softened that a slight rubbing
with the cloth will remove it, When
thoroughly dried the burner will be as
clean and nice as when first taken
from the store. The soda very often
turns the brass to q dark lead color,
giving it an antique look which is liked
by some; but if the bright brass is pres
ferred, this may be restored by rub"
bing with ammonia and whiting, or
ashes II soda is not convenient boil
it in good, strong soap-suds and it will
clean it very we'll. If burners ara
cleaned in this way once every two
weeks, which is not too often, they will
not get out of order as easily and will
last great deal longer, besides insur-
. ing q bright, clear light free from any
offensive odor.
Try aud arrange the work SO as to
clean the lamps the first thing in the
morning after the breakfast dishes
have been washed and put away, for il
they are left until afternoon, they are
very apt to be forgotten, or, it remcn'
bered. they get;s careless, hurried cleaz1'
ing Have psr of scissors especially
for trimming the wicks, and have them
sharp. Dull scissors are never fit for
this work. Lift up the cap and cut
! off the wick close to the flat tube
through which it passes, and it will be
sure to be straig ght; then turn up the
wick and cut small piece from each
corner, which, when the lamp is Lii
will give broad, round~cornered
dame. 1t is claimed by some that
chinneys washed in soapsuda
break easier than those washed
III clear water. To obviate this.
| t washed IN warm soap-suds,
rinse in clear water and there will be
10 danger OF their breaking. After
insing, let drain little while, then
wipe with a soft cloth or a piece Of
newspaper. Once in while wash out
the inside OF the bowl of the lamp with
warm soapsuds to clear it of the sedi
ment of the oil that settles at the bot
tom. When trimmed and filed, wipa
well, put on the chimney and turn
down the wick just below the top o.
the fat tube. 1t is by leaving the wick
above this that causes that little circle
of oil around the cap, and which very
often flows down the outside of the
bowl, necessitating a wiping before be-
ing lit. When lighting the lamp see
that the wick is up only a short dis
tance from the tube. Put on the chim-
ney and let the glass get heated gradu-
ally before turning it up to its full
height.
If cloths are used to wipe the lamps
burn them when through. Don't pu'
| t, ,,oo %ho,oo II,